AN EU arms embargo against Saudi Arabia has been overwhelmingly backed by MEPs hours after David Cameron made a sales pledge to the kingdom.

The resolution calls for sanctions in response to air strikes and a naval blockade in Yemen but is not binding.

It came soon after the Prime Minister said there was "more work to do in Saudi Arabia" to sell them "brilliant things" like the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Speaking at the BAE Systems factory in Warton, Lancashire where the jet is made, Mr Cameron added: "Here obviously we are at a great British company which is at the heart of our defence and manufacturing industry.

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Saudi Arabia has allegedly breached international law in Yemen

This is about Yemen. The human rights violations have reached a level that means Europe is obliged to act and to end arms sales to Saudi Arabia

Richard Howitt, a British centre-left lawmaker

"But I could be standing in a company owned by a foreign business who obviously come and invest here in Britain because we have a great workforce, because we have got great skills.

"But they also come and invest because we are in the European Union, we are the launchpad for many businesses from Britain into Europe.

"Why put that at risk? Why have the uncertainty? In a dangerous and uncertain world, why take the leap in the dark? That is at the heart of the case I am making."

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Any EU embargo would go against President Obama’s policy to strengthen US military support for Saudi

EU lawmakers have claimed that Britain had licensed more than $3billion of arms sales to Saudi Arabia since Saudi-led forces began military operations in Yemen in March last year.

Nearly 6,000 people have been killed since the coalition entered the conflict, almost half of them civilians, according to the United Nations.

Richard Howitt, a British centre-left lawmaker who led efforts to hold the vote, said: “This is about Yemen. The human rights violations have reached a level that means Europe is obliged to act and to end arms sales to Saudi Arabia.”

The parliament’s vote is not legally binding but lawmakers hope that it will pressure EU Governments to agree to an embargo.

A petition calling for the suspension of weapon sales was signed by 750,000 European citizens.

Any EU embargo would go against President Obama’s policy to strengthen US military support for Saudi Arabia.

Britain and France are the main European suppliers of arms to Saudi Arabia.

EU lawmakers warned the vote may prompt retaliation from Saudi Arabia, whose envoy to the European Union held several meetings with EU lawmakers and tried to dissuade the parliament.

Mr Howitt said: "The Saudis said to me they may cut off relations. I hope those are just words.”

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Scottish MEP Alyn Smith, who led the motion in the EU Parliament, said EU-made weapons were being exported to Saudi Arabia "in breach of international law".

Mr Smyth said: "Having grown up in Saudi Arabia I am sensitive to the realities of the Saudis and appreciate that the Saudis have concerns in their neighbourhood.

"But our duty is to the civilians in Yemen, and given widespread and very valid concerns over the conduct of the war by Saudi forces, our call for an EU-wide arms embargo is proportionate and necessary."

Saudi Arabia's ambassador, Abdulrahman Al Ahmed, defended the kingdom's actions in a letter to EU lawmakers on Sunday, saying that "the larger ramifications of our not taking action in Yemen would have had devastating geopolitical consequences for the kingdom, Europe and the broader West as well."